Method of pleating



June 1967 'M. LIEBESEQIND 3,323,695

METHOD OF PLEATING Filed July 28, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l MWU ATTORNEYS June 6, 1967 ;E K 3,323,696

METHOD OF PLEATING Filed July 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENVENTOIR MACK L/EEESK/A/D ATTORNEYS June 6, 1967 M. LIEBESKIND METHOD OF PLEATING 3 SheetsSheet 5 Filed July 28, 1964 D m m N F. W m m M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,323,696 METHOD OF PLEATING Mack Liebeskind, 65 Sutton Ilace, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559 Filed July 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,698 6 Claims. (Cl. 223-30) The present invention relates generally to the application of decorative pleating to textile materials, and more particularly to a novel method during the simultaneous application of pleating and counter-pleating to a textile material of further imposing a pattern to the applied counter-pleats to further enhance the appearance of the textile material.

It is already well known according to US. Patent 2,979,240, issued Apr. 11, 1961, how to superimpose a countenpleat pattern on to a pleated textile material to enhance the appearance of the material. As described in this patent, use is preferably made of a positioned adhesive tape which during each pleating stroke engages the cusp of the pleat during its formation, and causes a reverse fold therein which provides a counter-pleat in the material. The contrast between the normally formed pleats laying in one direction in the material and the counter-pleats laying in the reverse direction therein, greatly enchances the over-all appearance of the pleated material.

In accordance with the present invention, the process of simultaneously pleating and counter-pleating a material is carried to a further point of development wherein a varying pattern is imposed or incorporated in the arrangement of the applied counter-pleats to even further enchance the appearance of the pleated material.

Broadly, it is an object according to the method of the present invention to superimpose on a succession of pleats, a corresponding succession of counter-pleats which itself has an interesting and varying pattern. This is in contrast to the application of a uniform succession of counter-pleats to said pleats as is now specifically taught by prior art methods.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method by which a series or succession of counter-pleats are applied to a pleated material and, as between the individual counter-pleats of such a series or succession, there is a readily noticeable and interesting variation. Specifically, the difference between the individual counter-pleats may manifest itself as variation in Width or relative location, or combinations thereof; such variation, moreover, following an over-all orderly pattern which is repeated at regular intervals in the succession of applied counter-pleats.

In carrying out the method of the present invention use may advantageously be made of conventional pleating apparatus employing intermittently operated feed rollers to alternately advance and hold a material being pleated. As is generally understood, such apparatus additionally includes a pair of spaced pleating knives located at the entrance to the feed rollers and between which the material is threaded in its run through the feed rollers. During intervals of intermittent advancement of the material, and when the feed rollers exert a hold on the material, the pleating knives engage the material and are thrust forward in a pleating stroke toward the feed rollers causing a body fold or pleat in the material. At this time an advantageously positioned adhesive surface engages the cusp of the pleat causing a reverse fold or counter-pleat in the material. In accordance with a preferred mode of carrying out the present invention, use is made of an elongated adhesive surface which has variations or a noticeable pattern in its lengthwise arrangement. Engagement between the individual pleats of a succession of 3,323,696 Patented June 6, 1967 pleats with this adhesive surface is :made at successive transverse lines of contact at spaced intervals along the length of the adhesive surface, and is effective to transfer or impose the pattern of the adhesive surface to the counter-pleats being formed on the succession of pleats.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments of pleated products made in accordance with the method of the present invention, and a presently preferred apparatus for practising said method, when take in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a pleating apparatus, with portions broken away, which may advantageously be employed in the practice of the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a similarly simplified elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as seen from another angle;

FIGS. 3-5 inclusive, are enlarged fragmentary elevational views, in section, illustrating the relative positions of movement of the pleating knives during a typical pleating stroke, to wit;

FIG. 3 shows the pleating knives in engagement about the material incident to a pleating stroke;

FIG. 4 shows the pleating knives and material at the end of a pleating stroke thrust which results in a body fold or pleat being formed in the material;

FIG. 5 similarly shows the pleating knives at the end of a pleating stroke, but at a location along the pleat where the knives move the pleat into engagement with an adhesive surface which forms a reverse fold or counterpleat in the cusp of the pleat:

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view projected from FIG. 5 illustrating the adhesive surface areas on the tape which produce the reverse fold or counter-pleat in the cusp of the pleat;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sample of pleated fabric with counter-pleat forming adhesive tapes still attached thereto, and with portions of said tapes peeled from the material to illustrate the transfer of the pattern of the adhesive surfaces of the tapes to the arrangement of counter-pleats applied to the material;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale, in section taken along lines 8-8 in FIG. 7, illustrating the opposite directions in which the pleats and counter pleats lay in the body of the material.

Reference is first made to FIG. 7 in which there is illustrated a segment of a sheet of fabric material, generally designated M, which has been pleated and counterpleated in accordance with the present invention. More particularly, material M is shown to have a succession of pleats P, each of which as is generally understood, is formed from a body fold provided the material M and pressed into the material. The counter-pleats of the material M are each designated R and, also as is generally understood, are each formed from a reverse fold provided the cusp of a pleat P and likewise pressed into the material M. The pressing of these folds into the body of the material M for permanently setting the pleats P and counter-pleats R in the material M may be performed as part of the folding operation or subsequent thereto in an autoclave.

As may readily be appreciated from the illustrative sample of pleated material M of FIG. 7, the contrast provided by the reverse directions which the pleats P and counter-pleats R lay in the body of the material M greatly enhances the appearance and thus the commercial acceptance of the material M. Also to be particularly noted in FIG. 7 is the readily noticeablle pattern in the succession of counter-pleats R superimposed on the pleats P which further enhances the appearance of the material M. Illustrative of but two of a wide variety of possible patterns that can be provided the counter-pleats R are the repeating diamond and undulating line patterns designated D and U respectively in FIG. 7. These illustrative patterns D, U are characteristic end results of the novel pleating and counter-pleating method according to the present invention, and have been chosen specifically to indicate the two degrees of variation possible between individual counter-pleats R in a typical succession of counter-pleats. More particularly, in the repeating diamond pattern D there is an obvious and easily recognized graduation in transverse dimension of successive counterpleats R, as for example as seen in the singled out counterpleats designated R2 and R3 which have the noticeably different transverse dimensions D2 and D3 respectively. In the undulating line pattern U, there is absent the just mentioned dimension variation but the individual counter-pleats R are noticeably displaced in location relative to each other, as seen for example in the singled out counter-pleats R4 and R5. It is also possible to apply a pattern to a succession of counter-pleats R in which successive counter-pleats differ from each other both as to transverse dimension and relative location.

Accordingly, the term non-uniform is deemed a fair description of the patterns which are possible according to the present invention to apply or superimpose on a succession of counter-pleats R, such term being related to the variation in location and dimension of the individual counter-pleats R in a succession of such counterpleats. This is in contrast to broadly considering the overall arrangement of the counter-pleats R throughout the body of the material M, which when so broadly considered could be said to be uniform in that there is repeat of the counter-pleat pattern at regular and uniform intervals, as may be seen for example in the uniform repeat of the diamond shape in illustrative pattern D. Nevertheless, the term non-uniform, as just defined, aptly characterizes the illustrative patterns of the present invention and moreover distinguishes the present invention from applicants prior US. Patent No. 2,979,240, issued Apr. 11, 1961, by which it is possible to provide a uniform succession of counter-pleats on to a pleated material.

The method of the present invention is advantageously practised using conventional pleating equipment, subsequently to be described in detail, which in conjunction with adhesive tapes, designated T1 and T2 in FIG. 7, is effective to apply the counter-pleats R on the cusps of the pleats P of the material M. Each of these counter-pleat forming tapes T1, T2 is provided with a varying, or nonuniform pattern of adhesive surface areas A arranged lengthwise along one side of the tape which is exposed to the material M during the simultaneous pleating and counter-pleating of the material. Thus, the tapes T1, T2 arranged with their adhesive surface areas A in facing relation to the material M are simultaneously fed with the material M through the pleating equipment and exit therefrom with the tapes T 1, T2 adhered along the body of the material M. In FIG. 7 a portion of each of the tapes T1, T2 is shown peeled from the material M and, a comparison of the peeled tape surfaces with the counterpleats R reveals that the illustrative counter-pleat patterns D, U are but mirror images or duplicates of the ar rangement of adhesive surface areas A along the tapes T1, T2.

The illustrative counter-pleat forming tapes T1, T2 of FIG. 7 may be processed to serve the ends of the present invention from a conventional adhesive paper tape product having a body formed of an elongated strip of paper C on one surface of which there is a factory applied surface coating of a suitable adhesive across the entire width of the paper body C. Modification of the tape adhesive surface is easily and economically accomplished by adhering a paper cut-out or shape S to this surface to cover or block out all but select adhesive areas, such as have been collectively designated A in FIG. '7, which it is desired to present or expose to the material M. In the alternative, the commercial application may warrant the expense of having a non-uniform adhesive surface area printed directly on an elongated paper body, in which case the resulting tape product for purposes of the present invention would be the equivalent of the tapes T1, T2.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, in which there is shown a conventional pleating machine, generally designated 10, which may advantageously be employed in carrying out the method of the present invention. Since the construction of the pleating machine 10 is conventional and well known, only those portions of the machine are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 which are necessary for an understanding of the present invention. Machine 10 will be understood to include a main motor drive (not shown) which has four power inputs to the various parts illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2. Two of these power inputs are to the shafts 12 and 1 4 which extend in parallel relationship across the width of the machine 10 and are suitably supported at opposite ends in spaced upstanding end frame members (not shown) of the machine 10. Journalled on the shafts 12, 14 are a pair of feed rollers 16, 18 each during the operation of the machine 10 are rotated in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows, and are effective during such rotation to advance the material M threaded therebetween in a forward feed direction as indicated by the arrow. As is generally understood, the rotation imparted to the rolls 16, 18 is not continuous but is intermittent, so that the material M under the control of said rollers, is in turn intermittently advanced by said rollers and during intervals between advancing movements is securely held by said rollers.

The other two power inputs into the machine 10 are to shafts 20, 22 which likewise extend in parallel relationship across the width of the machine 10 and are suitably supported at opposite ends in side frame members of the machine. Shafts 20, 22 are similarly imparted with intermittent rotational movement during normal, conventional operation of the machine 10.

In accordance with usual practise, the material M which is pleated is sandwiched between top and bottom paper 24, 26 during the pleating operation. Thus, a continuous supply of bottom paper 26 is unwound from a supply roll 26a positioned on the intermittently rotated shaft 22 and extended around a guide roller 28 supported on an idler shaft 30 and threaded with the material M between the feed rollers 16, 18. In like fashion, a continuous supply of top paper 24 is unwound from spaced supply rolls 24a carried on the shaft 20 and extended around a guide roller 32 supported on an idler shaft 34 and also threaded with the material M through the feed rollers 16, 18.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a counter-pleat forming tape designated T, which will be understood to be of the same make-up and generally possessive of the characteristics and attributes of the previously described tapes T1, T2, is extended from a supply spool 36 diagonally through the break between the threaded lengths of top paper 24 over a transversely disposed guide bar 38, and threaded through the feed rollers 16, 18. The tape supply spool 36 is mounted on a pin 40 extended between brackets 42 which are disposed in a force fit on a transversely disposed support rod 44. After initially manually threading the free end of the tape T through the rollers 16, 18, a continuous supply of tape T is automatically unwound from the supply spool 36 by the forward movement imparted by the feed rollers 16, 18 to the material M which at the nip of the rollers is pressed into engagement with the adhesive surface of the tape T. However, prior to the nip of the rollers 16, 18 the tape T is not in contact with the material M, although a close proximate spaced relationship is established therebetween. This spaced relationship is maintained during operation of the machine 10 by the guide bar 38 which guides the tape T through an appropriate angle of entry into the nip of the feed rollers 16, 18. To somewhat widen the effective pressing area of the nip of the feed rollers 16, 18 an endless belt 46 is trained about the upper feed roller 16 and about an idler roller 48 journalled for rotation on a transversely disposed idler shaft 50 suitably supported at its opposite ends in the side frames of the machine 10. Since the tape T is arranged for passage through the machine with its adhesive surface downward or facing the material M, the guide bar 38 over which said tape is passed during its run into the nip of the feed rollers 16, 18 will be understood to be of a suitable material which permits free movement of this adhesive surface along the contacted edge of the guide bar 38.

As is generally understood, the pleating machine 10 is also provided with a pair of spaced transversely disposed pleating knives 52 and 54. As is best shown in FIG. 2, the pair of pleating knives 52, 54 are arranged on the outside of the sandwich of the material M and top and bottom papers 24, 26 which are processed through the pleating machine 10. A pair of suitably supported transversely disposed pair of L-shaped actuating arms 56, 58 is provided to mount each of the pleating knives 52, 54 at the entrance into the nip of the feed rollers 16, 18. As the operation of the pleating knives 52, 54 is generally understood, from an open position as best shown in FIG. 2, these knives are closed upon the paper sandwiched material M threaded therebetween incident to a pleating stroke. This closing movement of the knives 52, 54 may be accomplished by opposing swinging movement of the mounting actuating arms 56, 58 bringing the unsupported or free edges of the knives about the paper sandwiched material M as is best shown in FIG. 3. Following this, and as best shown in FIG. 4, the pleating knives 52, 54 are thrust forward in the direction of the feed rollers 16, 18 and slightly upward. During this pleating thrust stroke, the rollers 16, 18 are stationary and exert a hold on the paper sandwiched material M. As a consequence, a body fold occurs as at F transversely across the width of the material M and produces a surface pleat P in the material M. In the particular pleating apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 there are no heating elements associated with the feed rollers 16, 18 and consequently to permanently set the pleat P in the material M it is necessary to process this material through an autoclave.

During the production of a pleat P, as just described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, across the width of the material M, a counter-pleat R is simultaneously produced in a segment of the cusp of the pleat P which is moved into engagement with the adhesive surface areas A of the tape T. As is best shown in FIG. 5 the forward and upward stroke of the pleating knives 52, 54 and the pleat movement responsive to this stroke, establishes a line of contact between a segment of the cusp of pleat P and the tape T across the facing surface of the tape T. As shown in FIG. 6, across said line of contact L there is an eX- posed adhesive surface area A for a portion of the width of said line of contact L as well as blocked out portions S which do not engage with the pleat P. Where there is pleat R within the boundaries of the tape T and the transverse dimension of said counter-pleat is made to correspond with like conditions of the adhesive areas A on the tape T at each line of contact L. From what has been described, it will be appreciated that simultaneous intermittent forward feed movement of the material M and tape T, has the effect of exposing each successive area of the material M which is moved into position for pleating, to another, and somewhat different, adhesive surface area A arranged along the length of the tape T. The over-all effect of this is the production of counterpleats R having the pattern or arrangement of the adhesive surface areas A of the tape T,

To illustrate this pattern transfer, reference is again made to FIG. 7 wherein a typical succession of lines of contact have been particularly designated L6-L9 on the tape T2 and the corresponding succession of counterpleats R in the material M produced at these lines of contact have been particularly designated R6-R9. By comparison of the arrangement or pattern of the adhesive areas A on the tape T2 along the lines of contact L6, L7, L8, L9. and the corresponding counter-pleats R6-R7, R8, R9 produced at these lines of contact, it will be seen that there has been a transfer of the herein defined nonuniform variation of said adhesive areas A to these counter-pleats. As may be readily appreciated, the detail in the transferred or reproduced pattern in the counterpleats R is a function of the number or frequency of line contacts L made along the tape T2 per unit of length, and thus this variable should in turn be fixed in accordance with the nature of the pattern which it is desired to transfer to the counter-pleats R.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims 'be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In the pleating of a sheet of material during which body folds are made therein for forming a succession of pleats in said material, a method of superimposing on said successively formed pleats a nonuniform succession of counter-pleats comprising the steps of intermittently advancing said material into a position of close proximate spaced relation to a facing non-uniform adhesive surface, successively folding said material during intervals of intermittent advancement into a succession of pleats, and during such folding operations repeatedly moving each pleat, in turn, into contact with the adhesive surface at successive lines of contact along said non-uniform adhesive surface for forming a counter-pleat on each pleat and producing a pattern in a succession of counter-pleats which duplicates the non-uniform pattern of said adhesive surface.

2. In the pleating of a sheet of material during which body folds are made therein for forming a succession of pleats in said material, a method of superimposing on said successively formed pleats a non-uniform succession of counter-pleats comprising the steps of intermittently advancing said material and an elongated tape carrying a non-uniformly arranged adhesive surface in facing relationship to said material into a close proximate spaced position to each other, successively folding said material during intervals of intermittent advancement into a succession of pleats, and during such folding operations repeatedly moving each pleat, in turn, into contact with the tape adhesive surface at successive lines of contact along the length of the tape for forming a counter-pleat on each pleat for the limit of engagement of said pleat with the adhesive surface on said tape at each successive line contact with said tape to produce a non-uniform pattern in the succession of said counter-pleats duplicating the non-uniform arrangement of the adhesive surface on said tape.

3. In the pleating and counter-pleating of a sheet of material during which a counter-pleat is formed along a segment of a pleat by the engagement of said pleat during the formation thereof with a retarding adhesive surface, the improved method of producing a succession of counter-pleats in a non-uniform pattern using a tape having a non-uniform arrangement of adhesive surface areas thereon along its length which is exposed in facing relationship to said sheet of material, which improved method includes intermittently advancing said sheet, moving said sheet through successive pleating strokes during intervals between advances thereof for folding said sheet into successively formed pleats, engaging each successively formed pleat with said tape along a line of contact across said tape for forming a counter-pleat in a location and of a transverse dimension on said pleat duplicating the location and transverse dimension of the adhesive surface area on said tape at said line of contact, and advancing the tape lengthwise in the direction of sheet advance between successively formed pleats to present a varying adhesive surface area at successive lines of contact made against the said tape by said successively formed pleats to produce on said pleats a pattern of counter-pleats duplicating the pattern of the adhesive surface areas on said tape.

4. In the pleating and counter-pleating of an intermittently advanced sheet of material during which there is formed during intervals of sheet advance a pleat lying transverse to the direction of sheet advance and a counterpleat along a segment of said pleat formed by the engagement of said pleat with a retarding adhesive surface, the improved method of producing a succession of counterpleats in a non-uniform pattern on said pleats using a tape having a non-uniform arrangement of adhesive surface areas thereon along its length which is exposed in facing relationship to said sheet of material, which improved method includes moving each pleat, during the formation thereof, into engagement along a transverse line of contact with said tape for forming a counterpleat in a loca tion and of a transverse dimension on said pleat duplicating the location and transverse dimension of the adhesive surface area on said tape at the said transverse line of Contact, and advancing the tape lengthwise in the direction of sheet advance between successively formed pleats to present a varying adhesive surface area at successive lines of contact made against the said tape by said successively formed pleats to produce on said pleats a pattern of counter-pleats duplicating the arrangement of the adhesive areas on said tape.

5. In the pleating and counter-pleating of an intermittently advanced sheet of material during which there is formed during intervals of sheet advance a pleat lying transverse to the direction of sheet advance and a counterpleat along a segment of said pleat formed "by the engagement of said pleat with a retarding adhesive surface, the improved method of producing a succession of counterpleats in a non-uniform pattern on said pleats using a tape having a non-uniform arrangement of adhesive surface areas thereon along its length which is exposed in facing relationship to said sheet of material, which improved method includes forming a succession of pleats in said sheet material, during the formation of which each pleat is moved into engagement along a transverse line of contact with said tape for forming a counter-pleat in a location and of a transverse dimension on said pleat duplicating the location and transverse dimension of the adhesive surface area on said tape at the said transverse line of contact, and advancing the tape lengthwise in the direction of sheet advance between successively formed pleats to present a varying adhesive surface area at successive lines of contact made against the said tape by said successively formed pleats to produce on said pleats a pattern of counter-pleats duplicating the arrangement of the adhesive surface areas on said tape.

6. In the pleating and counter-pleating of an intermittently advanced sheet of material during which there is formed during intervals of sheet advance a pleat lying transverse to the direction of sheet advance and a counter pleat along a segment of said pleat formed by the engagement of said pleat with a retarding adhesive surface, the improved method of producing a succession of counterpleats in a non-uniform pattern on said pleats using a tape having a non-uniform arrangement of adhesive surface areas thereon along its length which is exposed in facing relationship to said sheet of material, which improved method includes moving said sheet through successive pleating strokes during intervals between advances thereof for folding said sheet into a succession of pleats, moving each of said pleats during said folding operation into engagement along a transverse line of contact with said tape for forming a counter-pleat in a location and of a transverse dimension on said pleat duplicating the location and transverse dimension of the adhesive surface area on said tape at the said transverse line of contact, and advancing the tape lengthwise in the direction of sheet advance between successively formed pleats to present a varying adhesive surface area at successive lines of contact made against the said tape by said successively formed pleats to produce on said pleats a pattern of counter-pleats duplicating the arrangement of the adhesive surface areas on said tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,602,272 10/1926 Korger 22330 1,770,590 7/1930 Ezbelent 22330 2,962,99l 12/1960 Burgert ll2l32 2,979,240 4/l96l Liebeskind 223-30 3,086,685 4/1963 Cahill 22330 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

Gv V. LARKIN, A ssislant Examiner. 

1. IN THE PLEATING OF A SHEET OF MATERIAL DURING WHICH BODY FOLDS ARE MADE THEREIN FOR FORMING A SUCCESSION OF PLEATS IN SAID MATERIAL, A METHOD OF SUPERIMPOSING ON SAID SUCCESSIVELY FORMED PLEATS A NON-UNIFORM SUCCESSION OF COUNTER-PLEATS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING SAID MATERIAL INTO A POSITION OF CLOSE PROXIMATE SPACED RELATION TO A FACING NON-UNIFORM ADHESIVE SURFACE, SUCCESSIVELY FOLDING SAID MATERIAL DURING INTERVALS OF INTERMITTENT ADVANCEMENT INTO A SUCCESSION OF PLEATS, AND DURING SUCH FOLDING OPERATIONS REPEATEDLY MOVING EACH 